Gov Exam

Government

Controlling or regulating a nation or organization.

Legal force

Someone who has a lawful right to exercise authority.

Gen 3:1-8

Adam and Eve's rejection of God's sovereignty, making their own rules.

Primary purpose of government

To protect us and our property.

Rule of Law

nobody is above the law

Romans 13:1-7

Obedience to authority is obedience to God; authorities are God's avengers.

Reasons to NOT obey governing authorities

1.) Forbidding God's commands (e.g., worship). 2.) Not protecting us and our property (e.g., revolutionary war).

Deut. 17:18-20

King required to write down and read the law daily for stability and knowledge.

Centralized government

Government with the most power, typically one person.

Decentralized government

Power for local authorities, harder to lead to tyranny.

Spectrum of power

Determining a nation's power by asking 'who has the power?'

Stamp Act Congress of 1765

British tax on paper, no taxation without representation.

Boston Massacre of 1770

British soldiers kill 5 colonists, tension rising.

Boston Tea Party of 1773

Colonists throw 342 chests of tea in Boston harbor to protest tea taxes.

Intolerable Acts of 1774

England's response to the tea party, new laws, no more self-government, closed Boston harbor.

Battle of Lexington and Concord of April 1775

Beginning of Revolutionary War, first shots fired, colonists push back.

Olive Branch Petition of 1775

Letter to the king asking for peace, response calling colonists traitors.

Purpose of First Continental Congress

Discuss response to Intolerable Acts, send delegates to PA, boycott British goods.

Mr. Dickinson's opinion on independence

Avoid war with Britain, colonies not strong enough, fear of native americans and France.

Mr. Adams' opinion on independence

Wants a free country, willing to die for it, believes France will help.

Purpose of Declaration of Independence

Document declaring independence from Great Britain.

Endorsed form of government in Declaration of Independence

Republic government, operates by consent of the governed, rule of law, protects unalienable rights.

Consent of the governed

The people have a say in the government.

Articles of Confederation

First attempt at structuring US government, weak and had problems.

Problems with Articles of Confederation

Too weak, no president or court system, hard to change, couldn't collect taxes.

Purpose of Constitutional Convention

Attempt to fix Articles of Confederation, ended up writing the Constitution.

New Jersey Plan

Each state gets one vote.

Virginia Plan

Provides 3 branches of government: Legislative, Executive, and Judicial.

Great Compromise

States have votes based on population.

Federalists

Supporters of ratifying the Constitution.

Anti-federalists

opposed to ratifying the Constitution.

Bill of Rights

First 10 amendments of the Constitution.

Federalism

Division of power between national and state governments.

Separation of powers

National government power split into 3 branches with specific purposes and limited power.

Executive branch

Enforces laws, led by the President and Cabinet.

Judicial branch

Interprets laws, led by the Supreme Court.

Legislative branch

Makes laws, led by Congress.

Checks and balances

Ways branches check each other's power (e.g., President can veto a law).

Memorization: Declaration of Independence

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed

Memorization: Preamble to the Constitution

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

How a bill becomes a law

Idea proposed, written as a bill, committee discussion, voting in both houses, presidential approval or veto.

Two things learned from bill project

Different laws in different states, split opinions on gun control.

Role of political parties in the US

Recruiting, watchdog, information dissemination, running the government.

Election of the President

Through primaries and general election, needing 270 electoral votes to win.

Electoral college

Process of electing the President, 270 votes needed to win.